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92 SNAKES IN SUITS
the tendency of many to be more influenced by style than substance.
However, not all members of a given affinity group are so gullible.
Indeed, informal observation of a number of such groups suggests
that something like the one-third rule may apply. For example, when
a latter-day Elmer Gantry, such as Bryan Richards, makes his move
on an unsuspecting religious group, perhaps a third of its members
will see him as convincing or charismatic, a third will be suspicious
(“he makes my skin crawl”), and a third will reserve judgment. The
interesting part is that when the scams, deceptions, and depredations
are revealed, many of the initial opinions remain unchanged. Those
who were impressed at first still believe they were right and that there
must be a mistake or misunderstanding. Those who were suspicious
at first now feel vindicated (“I knew he was bad news”). And the remaining
third still are on the fence (“what happened?”).
“I Felt Like I Was Lunch”
In Without Conscience, Hare noted that many people feel uncomfortable
in the presence of a psychopath, whom he described
as a social predator. Although most people can’t quite put their
finger on what bothers them, many comment that they were bothered
by “a predatory stare and empty eyes.”
In a recent study, researchers J. Reid Meloy and M. J. Meloy
studied the reactions of mental health and criminal justice professionals
concerning their “physical reactions” while interviewing
psychopathic offenders or patients. The reactions were varied
and included sensations and feelings that were gastrointestinal
(queasy stomach, feeling of illness), muscular (shaky feeling,
weakness), cardiovascular (pounding heart), pulmonary (shortness
of breath), perceptual (watchful, couldn’t look in the eyes),
and dermatological (skin crawled, goosebumps). Many reported
feelings of general anxiety, being ill at ease, repulsion, fascination,
and stimulation. Some reported that they wished to flee the
scene or that they felt as if they were about to become lunch.